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March 2025
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Welcome to the second edition of our Central Bedfordshire Council Elective Home Education (EHE) newsletter.
Thank you for the suggestions and comments provided following our first edition of the newsletter. Please continue to send in your feedback and comments as this will enable us to keep improving. You can email ehe@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk.
It would be great to share examples of some of the children’s work that they are proud; we would like to share some of this in a ‘showpiece’ section as part of future issues. Please feel free to send some examples across to Fiona and confirm that you are happy for these to be published.
There are occasions where we would like to be to share information with you more quickly than via this newsletter and it would be very useful for us to create a block email address list of EHE families so we can send this information out. These emails would be sent in a way where other recipients wouldn’t be able to see who else had received it, maintaining your confidentiality. If you would like to be added to this list, please let Fiona know.
Contents
- Revision and exam information
- Options after a child turns 16 – how our Youth Support Service can help
- Focus on mental health
- Our libraries
- Things to do during the spring and summer term (including information about discounts)
- Community engagement
- Useful information and resources for families
Revision and exam information
For some children in secondary school, the summer term can be a busy time with preparing and sitting exams. Here are six tips for success to share with your children to help them with their revision.
Start to revise early
Cramming your learning into a short period can be overwhelming and ineffective. Start studying as soon as possible to give you ample time to review the material. Some people prefer to study for a few hours daily, while others prefer to study longer over the weekend or at night. Find a study routine that works best for you and stick to it.
Create a study plan
This will help you workout how much time you have available each day for studying. Work out your strengths and weaknesses and allocate time in your study plan accordingly. Make sure you also include regular breaks.
Learning environment
Make sure you have a quiet space to study with limited distractions to allow you to focus on the material and the space you need.
Use a variety of revision techniques
Such as condensing notes, using flashcards or mind maps to help you remember key concepts. Teaching others is also an effective way to reinforce your learning, as it forces you to explain concepts in a way others can understand. Perhaps you can organise a study group!
Practice with past exam papers
Practising with exam material from earlier years is a great way to prepare for an exam. Not only will it help you familiarise yourself with the exam format, but it will also help you identify any areas where you need to focus your studies. Look for past papers from previous years and attempt to answer the questions under exam conditions. This will help you get a feel for the timing and pressure of the exam.
Manage stress by:
- exercising regularly: regular exercise can help you reduce stress and improve your mood
- practising relaxation techniques: meditation, deep breathing, or yoga can help you relax and reduce anxiety
- talking to someone: talking about your stress can help you gain perspective and feel supported
- getting enough sleep: resting is crucial for reducing stress and maintaining your overall well-being
- eating a balanced diet and staying hydrated: avoid sugary and processed foods, as they can lead to crashes in energy and concentration. Instead, opt for nutrient-dense foods like nuts, seeds, and berries that provide sustained energy and improve brain function
Exam information
To enter exams, find exam centres to sit the exams, find the specification and find past exam papers to help with revision, you need to go onto the specific exam boards website.
Find out more about the main exam boards in England and Wales.
Options after a child turns 16 – how our Youth Support Service can help
Our team of Youth Careers Advisors support young people with their aspirations around education, employment and training. We are here to listen to young people and work with them to reach their goals.
Schools and colleges offer this support to young people who are enrolled, but we primarily support young people who are:
- not in education, employment or training (NEET)
- home educated
- under medical needs
- at higher risk of becoming NEET
Our Youth Careers Advisors are Allison, Caroline, Kerry, Liz, Madiha, Nicola, Ruth and Sonia.
We can work with some young people in schools and colleges where they require more specialist or additional support. This may include young people with SEND. We take referrals from young people, parents/carers and other agencies but we need to know that the young person would like our support.
We will always aim to meet with young people in their local community but where a home visit is the best option, we can usually offer this. We can also offer video calls or telephone calls.
We understand it can seem daunting to meet someone new and where the young person would like this, we can send a one page profile of the advisor who will meet them which might help ease anxiety around a meeting.
There are a lot of young people looking at their post 16 options, especially those in Year 11.
We would recommend having a look at our website. The ‘choices at 16’ page can be helpful as a start, giving an overview of the different opportunities including local colleges, some of our smaller providers and apprenticeships.
We would encourage all young people, where they are able to, to visit colleges or smaller providers that they are interested in. Each provider has a website to advise on the courses available, and most are happy for an appointment to be made. The smaller providers will usually offer more individual meetings and tours.
Another great resource is the SEND Local Offer website, which is often helpful for people with additional needs, including mental health needs. We would encourage you to have a look at the preparing for adulthood section, and the Education, Training and Employment section.
If you’d like to find out more, please call us on 0300 300 8352 or email: youth.services@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
Focus on mental health
We all have mental health, and just like physical health, it can have its ups and downs. Sometimes we feel stressed or worried, and that’s completely normal. The important thing is knowing how to look after ourselves and when to reach out for support. Whether it’s talking to someone you trust, taking a break, or finding activities that help you relax, small steps can make a big difference. Remember, you’re not alone—help is always available if you need it. There are a range of resources to help get advice and support and you can talk to your GP.
Everything OK is a website designed to help young people find the help and support they need when they have questions about their thoughts or feelings.
Samaritans can provide support to anyone in emotional distress, struggling to cope or at risk of suicide. Call 116 123 for support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Find more information about support on our website.
There’s also a range of information on the NHS website.
Upcoming event
There are two online workshops for parents and carers coming up, which may help support your children with their mental health. The upcoming events are:
- Helping Your Child with Exam Stress on Wednesday 30 April from 5pm to 6pm
- Supporting School Transitions on Wednesday 18 June from 11am to midday, and Tuesday 8 July from 5pm to 6pm
Parent and Caregivers - Whole School Approach Online Events
Our libraries
Central Bedfordshire is home to 12 libraries, all offering free membership. To register, you need to provide proof of address. Once registered, children can borrow up to 10 items from the library’s extensive collection of books. Books from other libraries can also be requested free of charge, and you can order and renew books easily through an app.
Our libraries also provide access to e-resources such as the Libby app, where users can read books and listen to stories online. Additional facilities include computers, printing services, and study spaces at many larger library locations.
Visit your local library to take advantage of these services and find out about the events and activities hosted there.
Activities include:
- for children and teens: Code Clubs, Chatterbooks, Board Games, Film Club, Minecraft, and Dungeons & Dragons
- for younger children: Rhymetimes and Storytimes to encourage early literacy and creativity
Libraries also provide access to e-resources such as the Libby app, where users can read books and listen to stories online. A Library App is available to make ordering and renewing books simple and convenient.
Additional facilities include computers, printing services, and study spaces at many larger library locations.
Families are encouraged to visit their local library to take advantage of these resources and activities.
Things to do during the spring and summer term
There are many places that offer reduced (or free) entrance tickets to home educating families.
Lots of museums offer free entry or school rates. There are also extra benefits to be had: if you contact them to pre-book, the Science Museum in London offer their Wonderlab experience at a discounted rate.
Some museums may also offer days specifically for home-educated children; contact the museum or look at their website to see what they offer.
Parks, zoos and castles may also offer reduced or school rates for home educating families. Check their websites or contact them directly.
The National Trust offers a reduced yearly family membership to home educators for around £50.
English Heritage allow free term-time entry to its sites for home educated families. You just need to email them to start an account which you’re then able to book educational visit through. You will need to give a few weeks’ notice for them to approve your application and send you entry permits.
Wondering how to get around? Find out about busses and trains on our website. You can also apply for a young person’s bus pass, which is available for residents of Central Bedfordshire who are under 18. It can be used to make as many journeys as you like at the discounted £1 maximum single fare.
Community engagement
Opportunities for home-educated children include:
Home educator days at Woburn Safari Park, suitable for children between 5 and 17. Find out more on the Woburn Safari Park website.
The Biggleswade Outdoor Hub provides free weekly outdoor social sessions, and further special educational activities. Contact Frances Matthews for more information: 07765407276
For more ideas, visit the Home Education Bedfordshire Facebook group.
Useful information and resources for families
Visit the Elective Home Education section on our website includes a useful contacts document and a list of websites which you may find helpful.
Visit our Family Information Directory to find your local children’s centre and see what activities they are running.
Visit our SEND Local Offer website for all local SEND advice, guidance, and support services.